Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How big can Liberty grow before it strains Lynchburg’s streets?
Spotted on the Lynchburg calendar: Heirloom - Silver and Brass Restoration Services: Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10-4
Hello Lynchburg! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How big can Liberty grow before it strains Lynchburg's streets?
- How will Lynchburg schools actually curb chronic absenteeism this year?
- How will Leadership Lynchburg change tough conversations in our community?
Also on today's calendar: Heirloom - Silver and Brass Restoration Services: Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10-4 and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What did one strawberry say to the other strawberry? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
Today's Lynchburg Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's Best Mobile Network in the US according to Ookla Speedtest®. Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 1H 2026. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Lynchburg Patch AM possible.
Find a T-Mobile store near Lynchburg. 
- Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high of 83 and low of 56 degrees.
- Wednesday: A t-storm around in the p.m., temps: high: 85, low: 65.
- Thursday: Humid; heavy p.m. t-storms, with a high of 84 and low of 65 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Liberty University president outlines five-year plan focused on graduation, student success (wset.com) — Liberty University is launching what could be its largest-ever residential class in Lynchburg while President Dondi Costin rolls out a five-year plan centered on graduation, retention, and campus safety. With about 16,000 residential students and 9,500 living on campus, Liberty is weighing how much more it can grow without straining Lynchburg's traffic and infrastructure, adding new housing and planning future academic facilities. 
2. Lynchburg schools battle chronic absenteeism with new division-wide plan (wsls.com) — Lynchburg City Schools is rolling out a division-wide plan to tackle chronic absenteeism, which topped 26% last year and exceeded 40% among many juniors and seniors. Starting August 25, every school will hold weekly virtual attendance meetings and report monthly data to the School Board, while new family resources aim to support parents facing attendance challenges.
3. Leadership Lynchburg selected for national pilot focused on navigating difficult conversations (wsls.com) — Leadership Lynchburg has been chosen as one of just 14 programs nationwide to test a new curriculum on navigating tough conversations, and it will be piloted here with local alumni in early 2027. The organization plans to train Lynchburg-based facilitators this fall, then weave the skills into its long-running leadership programs that already serve businesses, nonprofits, schools, and government across the region.
4. Liberty field hockey is Big East's preseason favorite, return depth and experience (wset.com) — Liberty's Lynchburg-based field hockey team enters 2026 as the unanimous Big East preseason favorite after winning the 2025 conference title. With four players on the preseason all-league team and key defenders and the goalkeeper honored, the Lady Flames are fine-tuning details like corners and shootouts before opening on Friday, Aug. 28, at Maine.
5. Rep. John McGuire Celebrates Lynchburg Regional Airport Receiving $8 Million Grant (house.gov) — Lynchburg Regional Airport is getting an $8 million federal grant to expand and upgrade its passenger terminal, promising smoother travel and better accessibility for local flyers. Rep. John McGuire and Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy highlighted the project as a boost for tourism, higher education visitors, and long-term economic growth across the Lynchburg region.
📸 Around Lynchburg
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Lynchburg
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Heirloom - Silver and Brass Restoration Services: Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10-4 →
1915 Commonwealth Dr, Charlottesville
10:00 am - BIG LICK CONSPIRACY Comedy Improv Troupe →
Commerce Street Theater, 1022 Commerce St, Lynchburg
8:30 pm
Wednesday August 26
Saturday August 29
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Golf @London Downs
Heritage High Lynchburg, VA 24502
4:30 pm - Cross Country @Liberty Bedford MS
Heritage High Lynchburg, VA 24502
5:00 pm - LMS Football @ Home game vs. Danville Middle
Linkhorne Middle Lynchburg, VA 24503
5:30 pm - Varsity Benefit Game
Heritage High Lynchburg, VA 24502
7:00 pm - Moxie Events Presents: Always Whitney
Academy Center of the Arts Joy & Lynch Christian Warehouse Theatre, United States
8:00 pm - Lynchburg Community Market →
1219 Main St, Lynchburg, VA, 24502
8:00 am - Cross Country @Wilson Memorial
Heritage High Lynchburg, VA 24502
8:30 am - Y2K Dance Party
Academy Center of the Arts The Music Hall @ 722 Commerce Street, 722 Commerce St, Lynchburg, VA, 24504, United States
8:00 pm - 2nd Annual LCF LEGO Home Building Contest →
Lynchburg Community Market, 1219 Main St, Lynchburg
9:00 am - Painting with Oils (Session 1)
Academy Center of the Arts Peggy Burruss Art Studio, United States
6:00 pm
Wednesday August 26
Thursday August 27
Friday August 28
Saturday August 29
Monday August 31
Tuesday September 1
📣 Lynchburg Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- I had the pleasure of meeting Sierra when she saw a picture of my rescue pup, Wilson, who I adopted in 2013 from Friends of Campbell County Animal Control.
He is now 15 and she really wanted to photograph him, this is what she does professionally and as a volunteer with FOCCAC. Please consider her for… (Nextdoor Evergreen Lake) - Please share & repost to help reunite this lost dog!
Della was LOST on August 22, 2026 in Forest, VA 24551 near Jiffy lube next to waffle hse Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to… (Nextdoor Rainbow Forest)
- TIBCO Software, Inc. posted a job opening for FT-Receiver/Stocker-Overnight in Lynchburg. Apply here.
- Sperry Rail Service posted a job opening for Certified Operator Trainee (NS) in Lynchburg. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Lynchburg here.
Ok Lynchburg! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: If you weren't so sweet, we wouldn't be in this jam! (Thank you Patti F. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
👉 Help make Patch AM better
- Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
- Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
- List items for sale or services offered
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.